The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1887-03-16
W0LsELEY AND GENERAL LEE
THE CONFEDERATE LEADER is COM
PARED TO THE DUKE OF
MARLBOROUGH.

Magazine for March is by Gen. LORD
Wolseley on Gen. Lee Gen. Lee is
given full credit for the love he had
for the Union and for the struggle he
went through before finally taking the
decision to go with his own State
Gen. Wolseley describes how Lee ac-
cepted his commission as commander
in-chief of all the military forces OF
Virginia in crowded convention of
the most eminent men Of the State,
and tLen draws parallel between
him and tue great Marlborough: Seen.
Lees presence commanded respect,
even from strangers, by a calm, self
possessed dignity, the like Of which /
have never seen in other men. Natu-
rally of strong passions, he kept them
under perfect control by that iron and
determined will of which his express
sion and his face gave evidence. AS
this tall, handsome soldier stood be-
fore his conntrymen he was the picture
of the ideal patriot. Unconscious and
self-possessed in his strength, he in
dulged in no theatrical display of
feeling. There was in bis face and
about him that placid resolve which
bespoke great confidence in self, and
which, in his case, one knows not how
quickly, communicated its magnetic
influence to others. He was then just
6fty-four years old, the age of MARI
borough when he destroyed the French
army at Blenheim. In many ways
and on many points these two great
men much resembled each other
Both were of a dignified and. command
ing exterior, eminently handsome, with
a figure tall, graceful and erect, while
a muscular, square built frame bespoke
great activity of body. The charm Of
manner which l have mentioned as
very winning in Lee was possessed in
the highest degree by Marlborough
Both, at the outset of their great ca
reer of victory, were regarded as es
sentially national commanders. Boil
had married young, and were faithful
husbands and devoted fathers. Boil
had in all their campaigns the SAINT
belief in an ever. watchful Providence
in whose help they trusted implicitly
and for whose interposition they. pray
ed at all times. They were giftef
with the same military instinct, thu
same genius for war, the power of fas
cinating those with whom they wer'
associated, the spell which they cas-
over their soldiers, who believed al
3 most superstitiously in their certaint,
of victory. Their contempt Of DANCE
! and their daring courage constitute
Q parallel that is difficult to equal be
t tween any other two great men of mod
ern times"
Reference is made as to how Gen
q Lee organized an army of $4,000 me
J. in two months, and as to how in an
; other month he had gained great vic
y tory at Bull Run and had driven tn
. Northern invaders back across the Pc
tomac like herds of frightened sheer
f his army being supplied with ammun
: ton, army stores and clothing capture
$ there. Gen. Wolseley incidentally es
presses an opinion, when speaking
: Bull Run, that the Confederates di
P not follow up their victory there q
, they should have done. A rapid an
= daring advance would have give
t them possession of Washington, tue
: enemy's capital. Political considers
! tons at Richmond were allowed t
: outweigh the very evident military e.
= pediency of reaping a solid advantag
: from this their first great success.-
Lord Wolseley says that Lee told hi
t that he had only 10000 men in fro,
of Mcclellan at Antietam, with fe
tired reserves behind, while McClella
t had an army OF 100000 men. II
n states that Lee always spoke we'll
;, Mcclellan, though he spoke bitterly
II none of his Federal opponents. ]
Y his reference to the thirty-five day
i fighting around Richmond, just befo
h the surrender at Appomattox, VOLS
= ley says: "Lee had only $1,000 e.
is hausted soldiers to oppose 1900
u fresh men under Gen. Grant"
l. speaking of the faults of Gen. Lee
q, :" says: "One of them was too gre
h dread of wounding the feelings of OF
i. org uhi,.b LODI hin, m 1oova ;noop,n